So when I resign myself to spending 3 more years in NC the husband finds out we're probably going to Vicenza Italy or Anchorage AK. I'm not too scared about being vegan in Italy but being gluten free? Horrifying. Anyone have any northern Italy things to share?

_________________"T-shirts are not allowed in heaven, Karyn. They don't do casual Fridays." - Amandabear

I'm guessing it'd be easier to be vegan there than Alaska but it depends. I'm guessing you'd have access to a commissary at both locations. From people I've known to live in Alaska, fresh fruit and veggies are very expensive.

_________________You are all a disgrace to vegans. Go f*ck yourselves, especially linanil.

Yeah so apparently celiac is so common in Italy that every child is screened for it at age 6, and it's a really gluten-free friendly place over all. I don't know about being vegan and gluten-free, but I've bought Italian brands of gluten-free pasta at international markets and they are super good.

_________________"No one with hair so soft and glossy could ever be bad at anything." - Tofulish

Yeah, i think in most of europe, celiac has been on their radar for a much longer time than here, so it's tested for a lot more frequently and thus diagnosed more frequently. so you might be ok on that front! i'd be worried about the cheeeeese! but you can probably get vegusto!

_________________I am not a troll. I am TELLING YOU THE ******GOD'S TRUTH****** AND YOU JUST DON'T WANT THE HEAR IT DO YOU?

take italy and run--if your family has choice in the matter. the produce is amazing. there are stunning xgfx pastas and other goodies to buy in markets. eating out will be a bit more difficult, but for cooking: the olive oil! the chocolate! the wine! the risotto!

I'm guessing it'd be easier to be vegan there than Alaska but it depends. I'm guessing you'd have access to a commissary at both locations. From people I've known to live in Alaska, fresh fruit and veggies are very expensive.

we have no choice! we were hoping for something in new england. apparently the overseas commissaries are tiny and pathetic and virtually worthless.

strawberryrock wrote:

I've heard there are tons of celiacs in Italy and there's really good gluten-free pasta there?

here's hoping! that's interesting about screening all kids and it gives me hope!

FabulouslyFierce wrote:

I was in Bologna in May. There are a couple vegan restaurants there, but mostly I ate pasta and cheeseless pizza so I don't know much about being gluten-free there :(

yeah i think pizza and pasta and that's it.

_________________"T-shirts are not allowed in heaven, Karyn. They don't do casual Fridays." - Amandabear

yes, I can confirm that even small towns in Italy usually have a pretty good selection of gf pastas and crackers and cookies and all that. I'm not gf, so I didn't check the veganness - but obvs for pasta you're good to go. Eating out might be a little harder, but at least there won't be much hidden gluten in the way of soy sauce and such. I think you'll have no problems cooking for yourself. Vicenza is a pretty cool place.

How cute would Livi be in Italy?! Oh my goodness! Someone get that kid a striped shirt and a straw boater hat. I'm hoping you all end up somewhere you can enjoy (in my mind that's anywhere but Alaska, but I know my dad LOVES Alaska.) I think cara cara was there recently, too?

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

Do you think Livi would be interested in dressing like a gondolier anyway?

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

I'll be in northern Italy (Ferrara, mostly) for the last two weeks of January on vacation. I'll be staying with a friend in her home. Does anyone have suggestions of things she can stock in her kitchen before I get there? A brand of margarine, maybe? Best soy milk?

I see on Happy Cow that there are a few good restaurant options. Has anyone hung out there? Basically, if anyone has any info at all, I'm all ears. I've never been to Italy, so I'm super excited!

I had no trouble finding vegan gelato, pizza, falafel stands, Indian food...really I ate fine. I used Happy Cow to find places. We also cooked at home a fair bit. I was staying with military friends and they could get everything you are used to at the commissary on base. You are going to be just fine!

One thing my friend noticed was that groceries were a lot more expensive in town. She lives two hours from base (random NATO gig), so she and her husband do one big shopping trip a month at the commissary and then do local fruits, vegs, and treats.

Yeah I think that's what I'd do. I got a little overwhelmed and freaked out feeling (my parents aren't in the best health and I worry about being over there being isolating, especially for Livi) so I google imaged Vicenza and felt better - so pretty. My point being that I saw produce stalls and they were lovely.

Also I looked a little at places to live and saw a few places at $3.3 million and got nervous. Wonder how big COLA is? HA.

_________________"T-shirts are not allowed in heaven, Karyn. They don't do casual Fridays." - Amandabear